When your company doesn't give you the salary hike you deserve.

While it is wise to not count your chickens before they hatch, it is important to take a step back and evaluate why you got what you did.

NEW DELHI | BENGALURU: A below expectation appraisal can be a bummer. While it is wise to not count your chickens before they hatch, it is important to take a step back and evaluate why you got what you did. Various salary increment surveys show that employees across most industries have received, on an average, a pay hike of 10-12%. But if you're on the lower end of the spectrum, here's a low-down on how to tide over the initial shock.Get communication going

Many companies see a mass exodus of employees who turn around and return their appraisal letters when they receive them. EY's national director for human resources, Sandeep Kohli, says when you don't get a rating that matches your expectations, the first thing to do is absorb what has happened. If you were expecting a promotion and didn't get it, then taking an extreme decision is a bad idea. "One should seek time with their manager to understand why they've been given that feedback or rating, what the logic behind it is and then with an open mind, put their point across if they still feel there is an expectation gap."

Don't make hasty decisions

Experts say don't make a hasty emotional decision. Usually, since there is a mismatch between expectations and reality, people are unprepared for the situation in which they haven't got what they wanted. "A gush of emotions and nostalgia can lead to a resignation. The key is to be rational; consider your career growth prospects for both options and reevaluate your reasons for switching jobs," says Nilanjan Roy, head of strategy, TimesJobs.com.

Spend time gaining skills

Talk to your manager about how you can develop additional skills. The larger aim should be to add more value to yourself professionally, says SV Nathan, senior director and chief talent officer, Deloitte India. "Once your senior leaders notice your visible energy and drive, your professional passion, and your positive attitude, they will know you are worthy of higher compensation and a better increment next year is sure to follow."

You could request to work across functions and projects, this would give you a wider understanding and exposure. "Volunteer to do more if required. You can also sign up for formal courses, executive learning programmes, and short-term courses to benefit your professional skills," says Saba Adil, chief people officer, Aegon Life Insurance.

A personal development plan

The question is, for those who've received a 7% pay hike, or lower than they were expecting, what's the way forward? "Don't let a salary hike be your main motivating factor. Learn to communicate better with your manager, and understand what you need to do to be a high performer," says Nicolas Dumoulin, regional director, Michael Page India.

Swapnil Kamat, CEO of Work Better Training, recommends speaking to your manager and coming up with a concrete plan for the coming year for what course of action is needed to improve your performance. "Set up quarterly, monthly and weekly targets for yourself that will add up to your overall performance for the year. Enroll for courses if you think they will help you work better."

Kohli of EY adds one must evaluate how one will grow in the current job versus any other organisation. "If you are moving you need to understand if you're doing it at the same level or will it slow down versus the growth here, keeping in mind a three to five year scenario.

Addressing expectation gaps

You must get your expectations in line with reality. Debabrat Mishra, senior client partner at Korn Ferry Hay Group, says you must evaluate if your expectations were inflated and a low salary was a product of the economy and company performance and not just yours. "One or two poor appraisals wouldn't affect how your entire career of, say, 40 years will span out. But it's best not to have consecutive bad appraisals," explains Mishra.

Financial Planning

Having one poor pay hike in all likelihood, experts say, won't affect your entire career, but you cannot let it become a trend. Experts feel salary hikes are unpredictable and, hence, you must not depend or plan your expenses around them. "Given the continuous ups and downs in the job markets and the pace at which careers are evolving, relying on unpredictable salaries for not just basic living but a secure financial future will certainly not be enough," says Ashok Kumar ER, chief executive, Scripbox.

source: techgig.com